Cambridge Story Competition: Elvia and a Magic Nut by Alexey

Sarah Lahiff

Introducing ‘Elvia and a Magic Nut’ by Alexey from Ukraine. ‘Elvia and a Magic Nut’ is one of the winning story submissions for the Cambridge Story Competition and was chosen as it has a great structure, an element of magic and a lovely ending. Congratulations Alexey!

Once upon a time, there lived a girl. Her name was Elvia. Her name meant ‘magic’. No one knew why she had such an unusual name. She looked like any other girl. She had blonde hair and green eyes. But in fact, she had an unusual talent – she could understand the language of birds and animals.

Elvia liked to walk in the park. She always came to the park and brought nuts for squirrels.

One time, Elvia was walking in the park. Suddenly, she heard two squirrels talking. One squirrel said: ‘A big black bird stole my magic nut! When I have this magic nut, I can always find food and I am never hungry. Now I can’t find the food I need.’

The squirrel was sad. Elvia wanted to help the squirrel. She decided to find the big black bird. She walked in the park for a long time and finally heard that somebody was above her head. The voice boasted: ‘I will never be hungry anymore!’ Elvia looked up at the tree and saw the big black bird. It had the magic nut in its mouth. Elvia thought: ‘I know how to get the nut back to the squirrel!’

She took a ring from her finger and put it on the stone near the tree. The blackbird noticed the ring, flew down and took it. At that moment, the bird dropped the nut! Elvia picked up the nut and returned it to the squirrel. The squirrel was happy!

Every morning when Elvia has breakfast, a few nuts appear on her windowsill – it is the squirrel that brings them. This is how the squirrel says thank you to Elvia.